Car-truck



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. T.'&.O. M. ROBINSON.

CAR TRUCK.

Patented Apr. 1l, 1893-.

WITNESSES:

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. T; avc. M. RoBINsoN.

GAB. TRUCK.

Patented Apr. 11

` ATTORNEYS',

mi u'omus PErERs col. mimo-LINO.. wAsqqlNGrogg, D. c.

UNrrnO STATES PATENT Outros.

JAMES T. ROBINSON AND CHARLES M. ROBINSON, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE ROBINSON MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE AND BELLWOODPENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,372, dated April 11, 1893.

Application filed August 29, 1892. Serial No. 444,358. (No model.)

.T0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that we, JAMES T. ROBINSON and CHARLES M. ROBINSON, of Altoona, in the county of Blair, and in Ithe State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Trucks, of which the following, taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to improvements in car trucks of the same general construction and arrangement as that set forth in the Patent No. 451,952 to J. T. Robinson, and has for its object the production of a highly efficient, simple and practical construction of truck incapable of permitting end or oscillatory and lateral movement of the car upon the truck, which, it is well known, is annoying to the ,passen ger and destructive to the car and truck;

and to this end it consists, essentially, in a frame composed of Side bars at the opposite longitudinal sides of the truck, each consisting of a pair of separated bars, top side bars above the former bars adapted to support the car, a plunger plate having one end secured to the latter bars and the other movable between the Separated bars against the journal boxes of the wheels; and in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the vlews. v

Figure l is a top plan view of a detached car truck having one of its top side bar-s removed for the purpose of showing the underlying'parts. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts as shown at Fig. 1, the brake-shoes being illustrated as out of engagement with the wheels. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken on line 3--3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a slightly modified form of our invention; and Fig. 5 is an isometric perspective of one of the detached plunger plates and the adjacent portions of one pair of the frame side bars which are illustrated by dotted lines.

It is well known that when cars, and particularly surface electric street cars, are passing quickly over uneven surfaces, especially when unevenly loaded, they are extremely liable to rock or oscillate endwise, thereby unduly straining the parts, and particularly the springs, of the truck, and greatly inconveniencing and annoying the passengers.

Our present invention is designed to entirely obviate this undesirable action, and is so simple in construction and arrangement that the cost of the truck is not materially increased, even though its lefficiency is greatly augmented.

The main side bars -A- of our truck are arranged along its longitudinal edges and each is preferably composed of a pair of bars -a'-aarranged edgewise and formed ot' steel or other suitable material possessing a limited flexibility. The bars -a-a are secured together at intervals by suitable clamps or bolts -aand are each formed With the depressed central portion -A-, upturned loops -A2-A2- at the opposite ends of the central portion, and outwardly extending extrem ities -A3-A3- arranged above the plane of the depressed central portion A-. By forming the bars A- as described, they are very light and strong and also possess aslight flexibility so that their ends may be bent slightly, as the car turns a curve, thus further adding to the practicability of the device. At the inner ends of each of the'extremities -A3-A3- is a downwardly extending arm -A4- having its inner upright face coincident with one of the inner faces of the adjacent loops, and between the opposite faces oF-a2- of the loops -A2- are suitable journal boxes -bfor receiving the ends of the axies -bcarrying the truck wheels -B-. YWe preferably aid the separation of the bars -ot-aby saddles -cmounted above the journal boxes -band engaged with the bars --a-o.- and interposed between said saddles and the top of the bearings flexible plates or washers .-c-.

-D- represents bracing or equalizin g bars or levers secured to the extremities of the bars -A-, the inner ends of said bars or levers -D* being rigidly secured by bolts or other fastenings -CZ to the adjacent ends of the ICO and the outer ends of said levers being formed with upwardly extending extremities eV- secured by bolts d2- to the forward ends of the frame bar extremities -A3-.

Mounted upon the bars or levers -D- for supporting the journal boxes are the lower ends of stools -E- formed of suitable material and having their upper ends guided between the opposite faces --a2-a2- of the adjacent loop -A2- and the arm A4- which forms part of said loop. We prefer to use this style of frame owing to its great strength and the facility with which the wheels may be removed, by withdrawing the bolt -dof the levers -D- and elevating the corresponding end of the frame bars-A-.

Directly above the main longitudinal bars -A- are the upper frame bars FH which may be of any desirable form, size and construction, and are here illustrated as each composed of an under metallic strip and a top wooden strip -f.

-G- represents springs which are interposed between the ends of the bars -A-, -F-, with their opposite extremities seated in suitable bearings or sockets -A5- and -f2'- upon the respective bars -A, -F-.

-G- designates similar springs interposed between the depressed portion A- of the bars -A- and the opposite portions of the top bars -F- with their extremities seated in bearings -AG- and -f3- secured, respectively, to the bars -A-, -F-. The supports -Aifor the lower extremities of these springs -G- are sufficiently high to support said ends of these springs in substantially the same plane as the corresponding ends of the springs -G-, whereby all of the springs are of the same length and consequently can be more readily formed of the same resiliency. These supports -AG- are rigidly secured to the side bars -A- and may be of desirable construction. Suitable central bars or bolts -H- pass longitudinally through the springs -G-, -G- and serve to support and adj ust the springs.

A plunger plate -I- is secured at one extremity to either the top frame bars -F- or to the car `body and is formed at its other extreinity with bearing faces adapted to engage corresponding faces on the fran1e-A-, and on the journal boxes supported in said frame bars, for compelling the frame bars -F- to move toward and away from the bars only in vertical planes, thus preventing one extremity of the bars -F- from approximating nearer to the corresponding extremity of the bars ,A- than the opposite extremity of said bars -F-.

As clearly seen at Fig. 2, the journal boxes -hare formed with opposite upright bearing faces -b2-b2- and the lower end of the plunger plate -I-, which is of greater width than thickness, is bifurcated and formed with opposite bearing faces ---z'- adapted to move vertically along the faces -b2-h2--. The lower end of the plunger plate enters between the bars d--dof the frame bars -A- and is formed on its opposite sides with projecting bearings or ribs --t"-i bearing against the adjacent sides of the bars -ct--afor preventing independent lateral movement of the car body, which, as previously stated, rests upon the bars lf- The projecting faces -f-iare preferably arranged in pairs so as to afford a very positive action without necessitating undue friction. It will thus be understood that, as the springs -G-G- are compressed and then released, the top frame bars -F- of the frame move downwardly and then upwardly only in vertical planes, and thus obviate positively the rocking movement of the car truck occasioned -when these bars -F are not compelled to move only in vertical planes. We preferably interpose between the faces -tv-- projections i2-2'2" formed of vulcanized fiber or other suitable material. These projections preferably consist of bars passed through openings 'iS--igin the plunger plates and they are sufficiently long to bear against the sides of the bars ct-aand may if desired, project slightly beyond the faces -z"1l-.

-J- is a cross bar between the central portions of the frame bars -F- and -K is a brake actuating lever pivoted at -kto the central portion of said bar.

-7ck are connections having theirinner ends hinged, respectively, to the opposite ends of the lever -K- and having their outer ends extended toward the opposite ends of the truck and adapted to be suitably connected to prime actuating devices, as levers or cranks, for rocking the bar lin re verse directions.

Projecting inwardly from the inner face lof the front frame bar -A- is a bracket -L- which is arranged at theleft hand of the lever -K-. On the opposite side of the truckv at thc right hand of the lever -K- is a similar bracket -L projecting inwardly from the inner face of the rear frame bar -A-'.

-M-M- are levers pivoted, respectively, at -m-mw to the brackets -L-L- and -M2-M3- are flexible connections as chains, connecting the upper ends of the respective levers -M M- to the adjacent ends of the actuating lever -K-.

-N-N- are rods or connections having their inner ends pivoted, respectively, to pivots -n-narranged upon the lever M- above and beneath its pivot Wtrihe bar or connection -N- extends toward the left and is secured by suitable fastening means -n2- to a left hand brake bar -O- which is provided with suitable shoes -o-o-bearing against the left hand wheels -B- and is movable in suitable guides -o'-o" projecting from the frame bars -A-. The connection or bar -N- is extended toward the right hand and is rigidly secured by suitable fastening means nzto the right hand brake bar -O- which carries shoes -o2-02- and is movable in guides -03- similar to the IOO IIC

guides mo--. As the lever -K- is rocked in the direction shown by arrow -Z- at Fig. l, the lever -M- serves to draw the bars' -O-O- toward each other and clamp the brake-shoes against the wheels. Above and below the pivot -m of the lever -M- are pivots n4-a5" connected to the adjacent ends of connections -N2N3 corresponding to the similar connections -N-N-. The outer end of the connection -N2- is secured to the brake bar -O-, and the similar end of the 4connection -N3- to the corresponding bar -O-. Consequently, as the lever -K- is rocked in a reverse direction to that indicated by the arrow at Fig. l, the lever -M- serves to set the brake.

We have here illustrated this particular form of brake as it is simple, strong and durable, and is particularly applicable for use with our car truck but it will be understood that the same forms no part of our present invention.

As will be readily perceived from the foregoing description and upon reference to the drawings, the parts of ourinvention are strong and durable, and owing to the prevention of the rocking of the car, our improved truck ,is particularly practical and effective, and its life is greatly lengthened and the convenience of the passenger in the car greatly enhanced. It is evident, however, that considerable change may be made in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts of our invention, hence We do not herein specically limit ourselves to such detail construction and arrangement.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a car truck, the combination with the Wheels, the axles and their journal boxes; of frame side bars arranged in pairs at the opposite longitudinal sides of the truck, each of said bars having an integral depressed central portion and upwardly extending loops at the extremities ot' the depressed central portion for receiving the journal boxes and having their extremities extending beyond said loops and elevated above said depressed central portion, and levers beneath the ends of said bars, one of the levers having one extremity secured to the adjacent end of the depressed central portion of one of said bars, and the other extremity secured to the end of the elevated extremity of said bars, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a car truck, the combination with the wheels, the axles and their journal boxes; of frame side bars at the opposite longitudinal sides of the truck, each of said bars having an integral depressed central portion and upwardly extending loops at the extremities of the depressed central portion for receiving the journal boxes and having their extremities extending beyond said loops and elevated above the depressed central portion, levers beneath the ends of said bars, one of the levers having one extremity secured to the adjacent end of the depressed central portion of one of said bars, and the other extremity secured to the end of the elevated extremity of said bars, and stools on said levers having their upper extremities arranged normally between opposite walls of the adjacent yokes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a car truck, the combination with the wheels, the axles and their journal boxes; of side bars at the opposite longitudinal sides of the truck, each of said bars having an integral depressed central portion and upwardly extending loops at the extremities of the depressed central portion, and having their extremities extending in a plane above that of the said depressed central portion and provided at their inner lends with downwardly extending arms and levers secured to the opposite extremities of said bars with their infy ner ends extending in a plane substantially coincident to that of the depressedy central l portion of former levers and secured thereto, and their outer extremities formed with fupwardly extending arms secured to said outwardly extending extremitiesof the former bars, substantially as and' for the purpose specified.

4. In a car truck, the combination with the wheels and frame side bars at the opposite longitudinal sides of the truck, each consisting of a pair of separated bars; of side bars above the former bars adapted to support the car, and a plunger plate having one end secured to the latter bar and the other movable between the separated bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a car truck, the combination with the ICO.

Wheels, frame side bars, and journal boxes rkfor the wheels mounted in said frame side bars; of side bars above the former -bars adapted to support the car, and aA plunger plate secured to the latter bars and -formed with an upright face movable along the side wall of the bearing box, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a car truck, the combination-withthe Wheels, frame side bars, and journal boxes for the wheels mounted in said frame side bars; of side bars above the former bars adapted to support the car, and a plunger plate having one end secured to the latter bars andtheother bifurcated and. provided with opposite upright bearing faces movable along the opposite Walls of the bearingboxes, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

7. In a car truck, the combination with the wheels, frame side bars at the opposite' longitudinal sides of the truck, each consisting of' a pair of separated bars, and journal` boxes for the wheels mounted in said frame,` bars; of side bars above the frame bars adapted to support the car, and a plunger plate having one end secured to the latter bars'and the other end movable between the former bars and against the journal boxes, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

for the wheels mounted in said frame side l bars; of side bars above the former bars adapted to support the car, and a plunger plate having one extremity secured to the latter bars and the other formed with a bifurcated end provided with bearing faces movable along opposite sides ot' the journal boxes, and With separated bearing faces movable along the adjacent frame bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a car truck, the combination with the wheels; of frame side bars arranged in pairs at the opposite longitudinal sides of the truck, each pair being formed of a single strip of metal of limited flexibility, clamps for securing together the bars of each pair, side bars above the frame bars adapted to support the bar and a plunger plate having one end secured to the latter bar and the other end movable between the separated bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a cartruck, the combination with the wheels, frame side bars at the opposite longitudinal sides of the truck, each consisting of a pair of separated bars, and journal boxes for the wheels mounted in said frame bars; of side bars above the frame bars adapted to support the car, a plunger plate having one end secured to the latter bars and the other end movable between the former bars and against the journal boxes, and vulcanized liber projections on the sides of the plunger plate having their ends adapt-ed to bear against said bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a car truck, the combination with the wheels, frame side bars, and journal boxes for the wheels mounted in said frame side bars; of side bars above the former bars adapted to support ythe car, a plunger plate secured to the latter bars and formed with a pair of separated upright faces movable along the adjacent frame bar, and vulcanized fiber projections on the side of the plunger plate, having their ends interposed between said upright faces and adapted to bear against the adjacent frame bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified. v

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names, in the presence of two attesting Witnesses, at Bellwood, in the county of Blair, in the State of Pennsylvania, this 5th day of August, 1892.

JAMES T. ROBINSON. CHARLES M. ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

GEO. M. MEYERS, S. H. PEIFER. 

